Tigers win Rogers, Ark. Tourney

The two hometown teams tried to slow things down on the Waynesville High School boys' basketball team in the semifinals and championship game of the Arvest Hoopfest Tournament Friday and Saturday.

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By Dave RobertsStaff Writer

The Daily Guide - Waynesville, MO

By Dave RobertsStaff Writer

Posted Dec. 17, 2013 at 10:01 AM

By Dave RobertsStaff Writer
Posted Dec. 17, 2013 at 10:01 AM

The two hometown teams tried to slow things down on the Waynesville High School boys' basketball team in the semifinals and championship game of the Arvest Hoopfest Tournament Friday and Saturday.

It didn't work.

The Tigers stormed through the tourney unbeaten to earn the championship.

After defeating Mt. Vernon (Mo.) 65-47 on Thursday, Waynesville knocked off host school Rogers 54-47 in the semifinals on Friday.

And on Saturday the Tigers upended Rogers' sister school, Rogers Heritage, 66-36, in the championship game.

Regardless of the opponents' strategy, the Tigers' mix of strong outside shooting and dominant inside play was too much to handle.

"They put on a really nice tournament," said WHS head coach Chris Pilz. "They have good accommodations and really took care of us. It was nice to get some games under our belts. I thought the kids were very good all weekend.

"Both (Rogers High and Heritage) played some zone on us. Friday against Rogers they tried to slow us up. They played hard. Coach (Arkansas men's basketball head coach Mike) Anderson was in attendance and everybody played hard."

Semifinals

Waynesville 54, Rogers 47

Waynesville's leading scorer and rebounder, 6-8 junior forward Juwan Morgan, picked up three fouls in the first half and went to the bench early, affecting the Tiger game plan.

Still, Morgan scored nine points in the first half before going out while 6-8 senior forward Kellieon Williams canned a pair of three-pointers and chipped in 10 first-half points to help the Tigers take a 12-8 lead after the first period and go into halftime up 28-23.

Morgan tallied seven more points in the third period as Waynesville took a 37-29 advantage going into the fourth period.

Williams took over in the fourth period, hitting three of the Tigers' four 3-pointers in the quarter.

"Morgan got two quick fouls and probably played a total of about two quarters," Pilz said. "Kellieon Williams really stepped up and hit three big threes down the stretch."

In the title game the Tigers roared out to a 20-10 lead after one quarter and was in control throughout.

Waynesville, now 4-0 and ranked No. 10 in the Missouri Class 5 state poll, fired in seven 3-pointers and had four players score in double figures, with a fifth adding eight points.

Page 2 of 2 - Guard Mike Thompson fired in a pair of three-pointers and Morgan scored seven points to power Waynesville in the first period.

Waynesville took a 33-24 lead into halftime and then allowed the Heritage War Eagles, now 4-2, just six field goals - three in each quarter - over the second half.

It was 46-30 heading into the fourth period.

"In the championship game they tried to employ the same strategy that Rogers did in the semis," Pilz said. "But we were able to practice between games and work on what we needed to do. We were really able to expose the other teams."

Morgan finished with 20 points to pace Waynesville while Johnson and guard Jaron Alexander each had 12 points and Williams 10.

Wyatt Kinnamon had 16 points and Conner Hirsh added 14 for the War Eagles, who didn't attempt a free throw in the game.

The Tigers are scheduled to host the Route 66 Shootout Friday and Saturday at the WHS gym. Waynesville is slated to play McCluer North at 7 p.m. on Friday and St. Louis Christian at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.